Arguably the most famous street in New York, 42nd Street cuts east to west across Manhattan from the East River to the Hudson River, passing by or through Times Square, Bryant Park, Grand Central Station and the United Nations. Whether you are looking for a quick pre-theater bite or a lavish 10-course meal, 42nd Street is a microcosm of all that New York City has to offer.
One of the pillars of fine dining in New York, Charlie Palmer's Aureole is comfortably settled into its new location smack on 42nd Street. The restaurant boasts an impressive 14,000-bottle wine collection and Chef Chris Lee prepares modern American dishes with international influences and different menus for the bar and dining room. Open for lunch and dinner; reservations are accepted one month in advance and are strongly recommended.
Convivio isn't the kind of place you stumble upon. Hidden on a small, tree-lined street in Tudor City -- a residential enclave between Grand Central and the United Nations -- Chris Cannon and Chef Michael White's Convivio is dark and elegantly appointed. A homage to the rustic flavors of Southern Italy, the menu starts with a selection of sfizi and antipasti before moving on to carefully crafted house-made pastas and satisfying mains.
In New York -- and arguably across the country -- Chef Daniel Boulud is the face of modern French dining. DB Bistro Moderne is the chef's ode to the bistros of France. With breakfast, brunch, lunch, pre-theater and dinner menus all offering classic bistro fare there are plenty of opportunities to dine at this popular hot spot.
Esca, Italian for "bait," is one of celebrity chef-restaurateur duo Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich's most understated, under-the-radar restaurants. Tucked into the theater district, Esca is a temple to seafood as prepared by James Beard-award winning Chef Dave Pasternack. Approachable sommeliers help diners select wines to match their tastes and price points.
Set in Hell's Kitchen, Five Napkin Burger is a destination for New Yorkers who will travel across boroughs to sample the namesake burger and house-brewed beers. Although they have a full menu beyond burgers, the Five Napkin Burger -- which won the 2009 Time Out New York's Best New Burger Readers' Choice Award -- is the crown jewel in their repertoire: a juicy beef burger topped with gruyere, rosemary aioli and caramelized onions.
For a glimpse into old-meets-new New York head to La Fonda del Sol, the Patina Group's redesigned Latin American theme restaurant from the 1960s. Under the guidance of Chef Josh DeChellis the restaurant maintains its nostalgic vibe while moving into the 21st century with modern Spanish dishes. The bar and dinner lounge areas boast a large selection of tapas, or diners can head into the dining room for more substantial fare.
The latest outpost in a quickly growing empire, Shake Shack is restaurateur Danny Myers' (Union Square Cafe, Eleven Madison Park, Gramercy Tavern) answer to fast food. With In 'n' Out-style burgers, Chicago-style hot dogs, frozen custard and classic shakes, the line at Shake Shack is always long. If they can take the wait, this is an excellent selection for kids.
For some of the best barbecue in the city, New Yorkers and tourists alike head to Virgil's Real Barbecue. The boisterous restaurant is good for families and there's plenty of kid-friendly food on the menu. The main attractions are the authentic, smoked, slow-cooked barbecue mains like pork ribs, beef brisket and pulled pork.
